13 Dec
2005
13 Dec
'05
2:34 a.m.
On 12/12/2005 at 6:09 PM woodelf wrote:
But the problem is not a copywrite , but the copywrite
being held too
long.
Take DOS for example -- true the copywrite is in
effect, but there is no
law to say after XYZ years of inactivity it becomes public domain. That
has happend
in
the past but now no more.
Current copyright for most works after 1978 is 95 years. Before that,
copyright was extended to 75 years. Yes, this is a far cry from the old
28+28 rule, but this is our Congress at work as well as the WTO (the 1978
revision is part of the Uruguay Round Sessions of GATT).
What this means that after the prescribed period, works enter the public
domain. Activity has nothing to do with copyright, nor has it ever had
anything to do with copyright. For example, music published before
October 1923 is now in the public domain. However, because of the Sonny
Bono (he was already dead when it was passed) Copyright Extension Act,
music published in 1924 will not enter the public domain until 2019. Mary
Bono publicly stated that Sonny wanted perpetual copyright, but that
appears to be unconstitutional.
This is the way things are and the extensions have survived a Supreme Court
challenge. If you want them changed, lobby your lawmakers.
BTW, this has nothing to do with that other bit of legislation, the Digital
Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) which adds further restrictions as to what
can be done with copyrighted material.
Cheers,
Chuck